NPL Preview: City v Brunswick City SC

Melbourne City will be looking to arrest a late season form slump when they host Western Conference foes Brunswick City SC in Round 26 of the PS4 NPL2 Season.

Despite still sitting in third position on the Eastern Conference table – a position they have held since Round 13 – City enter the clash with Brunswick having lost four of their last five games and having only won twice in since they fell to third position in Round 13.

Round 25 saw City go down four goals to one against Eastern conference side Nunawading City FC away at Mohoneys Reserve.

Former Hyundai A-League striker Mitch Cooper doing the damage with a hattrick for a Nunawading side that also featured former A-League players Jason Trifiro, James Brown and Patrick Gerhardt.

City – who’s goal came from a perfectly struck free kick from Mersim Memeti – played the game missing a large contingent of their squad, with several key players unavailable for selection due to injury, suspension, Young Socceroos duties or senior A-League squad duties.

City Youth boss Joe Palatsides said of his sides missing talent:

“I think this is going to be one of the youngest squads, today, that we’ve ever put out for the NPL seniors. And the time will come for them to turn that result around.”

And Palatsides says to expect to see more fresh talent to make an appearance against Brunswick City and throughout the rest of the season:

“At this period of the year we’re blooding a lot of the young boys in. We knew we were a bit inexperienced.”

“I think there will be another couple of players who will come in “

As a result of the defeat City’s grip on third position became increasingly tenuous – with the three-team chasing pack of Murray United, the Goulburn Valley Suns and the Springvale White Eagles all drawing to within a game after Round 25.

Murray United will travel to Moreland to take on the inform Zebras in there Round 26 match, whilst the Suns will host the Melbourne Victory Youth and the Eagles will travel to face the Whittlesea Ranges.

Opponents Brunswick City come into Round 26 having not won a game since round their shock upset of Northcote City in Round 20 – losing four and drawing once in the five games since.

Round 24 saw Brunswick also go down by a score line of four goals to one against Sunshine George Cross SC.

Brunswick currently sit in seventh position on the Western Conference table – with the result on the weekend potentially moving them up to fifth or down to ninth depending upon the final score line.

The game between the two sides has been moved from its initial date of Saturday the 12th by the FFV to July the 5th – with the seniors to kick off at 3pm and both clubs U20 sides playing a curtain raiser at 3pm.